Should I get 802.11a or 802.11b for access to public access points?

[Brian the Fist]

I want to get a wireless card for my laptop. My main purpose will be
to make use of it in airports, coffee shops, etc. which I believe are
mostly all 802.11b right now. So my question is, since 802.11a and b
are not compatible, is this expected to change in the near future? If
I buy a 802.11b card is it likely to work in most public access points
for the next few years at least? I could get a 802.11g card too but
there seems to be little advantage since 11mpbs is more then I will
get in most places anyways. I like the fact that 802.11a uses a 'less
busy' frequency range but that will NOT work currently in most public
places and as well sucks laptop batteries right?

Just want some opinions and to make sure I got my facts straight.
Thanks in advance.

[AJ]

>I want to get a wireless card for my laptop. My main purpose will be
>to make use of it in airports, coffee shops, etc. which I believe are
>mostly all 802.11b right now. So my question is, since 802.11a and b
>are not compatible, is this expected to change in the near future? If
>I buy a 802.11b card is it likely to work in most public access points
>for the next few years at least? I could get a 802.11g card too but
>there seems to be little advantage since 11mpbs is more then I will
>get in most places anyways. I like the fact that 802.11a uses a 'less
>busy' frequency range but that will NOT work currently in most public
>places and as well sucks laptop batteries right?

Yes.

>Just want some opinions and to make sure I got my facts straight.
>Thanks in advance.

Netgear's a/b card is out now. They just announced they will release
an a/b/g card, very soon:

http://www.netgear.com/pressroom/press_releasesdetail.asp?id=134

AJ
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Advanced hardware:
http://tinyurl.com/6970
http://tinyurl.com/6kxt

[Howard Wettstein]

they have an a/b access point. dlink also has an a/b router. What's the
difference? Obviously a novice question.
thanks for advice about the difference and also about netgear vs. dlink,
etc.
Howie

"AJ" <aj...@hotmail.comremove> wrote in message
news:tkbl8v8td098ih11c...@4ax.com...

[xzavior]

I would go with 802.11b because it is cheaper and more widely used. If you
get 802.11a then you will not likely get a lot of use out of it. If you
are that concerned with it then you can get a combo card that works on
a/b/g.
--
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Jeffrey
ICQ# 44404094
Yahoo!: mrmac14
------------------

[AJ]

>they have an a/b access point. dlink also has an a/b router. What's the
>difference?

The a/b router is a wireless access point with a router added in the
same box. The router is great since you then have an always on
broadband connection plus it's a firewall. Without the router, one
computer must always be left on(gateway), to route the broadband
connection to any compters that want on the net(clients). Then
internet connection sharing(ICS) must be set up which is a pain. Now
that routers are so cheap that really is the way to go. You can always
add a router later and that does give more flexability on placement
but with a little more clutter.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/troubleshoot_index.htm

[Craig Wiesner]

Hi,

My feeling is that 802.11b will be a best bet for public access
networks. Although there are other types of wireless coming, and
others that have already fought the good fight and died, most folks
who build equipment for hot spots will have to provide compatibility
for 802.11b.

Check out some of the information on our community networks page and
you'll see that virtually everyone making a business out of this is
doing so with 802.11b.

http://www.wkmn.com/newsite/communitynets.html

Enjoy,
Craig Wiesner
A Newbie's Guide to Wireless Networks
http://www.wkmn.com/newsite/newbie.html

fel...@mshri.on.ca (Brian the Fist) wrote in message news:<8bee689b.03040...@posting.google.com>...

[sleeper]

Someone is making a card now that is backward compatible to a,b and g.
Netgear maybe???

"Craig Wiesner" <cr...@wkmn.com> wrote in message
news:bee7b58.03040...@posting.google.com...

[Oliver Costich]

On Wed, 02 Apr 2003 04:39:22 -0500, AJ <aj...@hotmail.comremove>
wrote:

Linksys is shipping a/b/g cards.

[Jeff]

"Oliver Costich" <olc-ca...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:tvf49vcktakd21i5o...@4ax.com...

So is D-Link...

Jeff

[Stephen Curry]

In article <SnLpa.33$5C2...@tornadotest1.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
"Jeff" <pitsaregreat*REMOVE*THIS*@yahoo.com> wrote:

B. Definitely B.

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